The first visit to the dentist by a child is a very responsible event and causes a lot of excitement among parents. The quality of treatment decreases during the restless behavior of the baby.
Refusal of timely treatment leads to a complication of caries with the development of foci of purulent infection (phlegmon, abscesses) that pose a danger to the child’s life. Early removal of milk and even more so permanent teeth leads to displacement, crowding of the remaining teeth, malocclusion, which can cause emotional distress in the future and limit the choice of profession, so the problem of a negative attitude towards dental treatment in children is of great importance.
It is better to start the acquaintance of the child with the dentist before problems with the teeth (acute pain) arise. Then it will be a new exciting adventure for him. A child is born without fear of a dentist, and if you do not want it to develop in the future, you need to start raising it as early as possible, preferably between the first and second birthdays. It will also help prevent many dental diseases.
Don’t let your child feel like you’re feeling anxious at the dentist. The manifestation of anxiety aloud, a look full of sympathy, causes panic in the baby and, as a result, uncontrollable behavior. When the best, most authoritative people for the child, parents say: “Go, don’t be afraid!”, he thinks: “Aha! So there is something to be afraid of. » The best assistants here are your endurance, parental warmth and calm confidence in him.
Cheer up the child, in high tones, tell that adult family members also go to have their teeth treated regularly, show your cured teeth. If you are also afraid, let someone else go with the child.
Have a conversation, look at the mouth together in the mirror, “talk to his teeth” with stories that an evil worm has settled in the tooth, which eats it like an apple, it must be lured out of there, the doctor will smear it with jam, the cheek will fall asleep, the tooth will fall asleep, and the worm will fall asleep , and the doctor will pull him out sleepy with a tiny spatula. Good luck in the fantasy world!
It is better to make an appointment at a time of the day when the child is in a good mood. Preferably after eating, as less saliva is produced, which improves the quality of work.
It is necessary to tell the doctor in advance about the previous negative experience of treatment.
The visit session should be short, better – a few tricks. Children have their own sense of time, and they get bored of sitting still for a long time.
Reward your child if he behaved well at the doctor. This brings up self-control, endurance, which will undoubtedly be useful to him in the future.
In our clinic, we show cartoons to the little patients during the appointment and give gifts. And the fillings can be colored!
To treat teeth is a necessity, but the doctor and parents should do everything to soften her perception by the child.